Postcard Collecting History Early 20th Century Golden Age of Postcards Postcard collecting was a huge craze in the early years of the twentieth century with the peak years being approximately 1907 to 1913. We have the early collectors to thank for the large supply of antique postcards that are still available for collectors today. Postcards were popular among both sexes and all ages. The cards were used to keep in touch with friends and family, for exchanging with strangers in othe geographical areas, and even for courtship. Official United States Post Office figures for the year ending June 30, 1908 cited 667,777,798 postcards mailed in the United States. By 1913 the total in this country was over 968,000,000, and by this date the craze was reportedly declining (quoted in the book Picture Postcards in the United States by George and Dorothy Miller). In addition, many unused cards went directly into collections. Mid-20th Century Postcard Collecting What was left of the old collections was appearing in the stock of antique and some specialized postcard dealers.

Some collectors sought out the best quality postcards, but most seem to have been not very discriminating and were willing to pay only a few cents for old cards. Many collectors concentrated on topics that are not very popular today, such as bridges and courthouses. Collecting large letter linen postcards, and later chrome name band postcards, from different locations was also popular. After World War II, travel was booming. Travelers could pick up free cards from hotels, motels, and restaurants and choose from many scenic view cards of popular vacation spots. An article from the August, 1947 Coronet magazine reported that “Sending picture post cards to the folks back home is a great American pastime.” When choosing cards to send, travelers also bought many for themselves to save as souvenirs of their trips. There were several publications about postcard collecting and a number of local postcard clubs. Postcard collectors are known as deltiologists, and the “Graduate Deltiologist” postcard (©1959) shows the names of postcard clubs of that time around the border.

Late 20th Century & Early 21st Century Old postcards increased significantly in value and collectors became more specialized and knowledgeable about quality cards. Some collectors refused to consider any card made after 1920. Real photo postcards became especially valued because of their historical significance. Mid-century roadside and local views increased in price. Mid-century city views actually tend to be scarcer than early views, and fewer cards show individual buildings. At the same time there were many modern postcards being issued, especially in the 1980s. These included many cards issued in series on a variety of subjects. Well-known comics such as Garfield, Teddy bears, and political topics were especially popular. Books of individual postcards bound together are often found now in bookstores and museum shops. Free postcards picturing the premises were no longer common in motels and restaurants. In the 1990s another type of free card became available. These were the “rack cards” with advertising aimed at young adults with high disposable income. Greeting postcards were easy to find in the 1980s, but were uncommon by the early twenty-first century. It is more difficult to find postcards of any kind in the stores now.

Even in cities, many of the current postcards show nature scenes and animals rather than local city views. A new phenomenon in the postcard world is Postcrossing. Postcrossing is an online project that allows its members to send and receive real postcards from all over the world. By joining Postcrossing, members can “send a postcard and receive a postcard back from a random person somewhere in the world!” By the summer of 2010 when Postcrossing celebrated its fifth anniversary, there were about 200,000 users in about 200 countries. How to Collect Postcards: 10 Steps (with Pictures) - wikiHow How to Collect Postcards Community Q&A Deltiology is the official term for collecting (and studying) postcards. [1] The third largest hobby after collecting stamps and money, [2] collecting postcards can be a very rewarding pastime that can be as broad or as narrow as you'd like, and can be undertaken absolutely anywhere in the world. Even Queen Victoria is thought to have had her own postcard collection, so it's certainly a hobby that has both pedigree and time behind it.

If you're keen to do something with the postcards you've got stashed at home or you're wondering whether or not to indulge in buying them every time you're traveling or sightseeing, perhaps deltiology will open up a new world of collecting for you. Steps 1 Decide how you will approach collecting postcards. The breadth of postcards is so wide that it's probably a good idea to develop your focus early on to avoid having box loads of unsorted postcards and not knowing what to do with them all. Postcards can be collected in many ways but some of the most common approaches are as follows: Postcards by a particular artist. Postcards from a particular location or country. Postcards dating from a particular time. Postcards with a particular theme such as a specific animal like a cat or wildlife, structures such as tall buildings or bridges, natural wonders such as waterfalls or canyons, household items such as teapots, artwork from museum collections, transport such as trains, trams or planes , beach scenes, Valentine's Day, Christmas, Star Trek, etc. (the possibilities are endless). Postcards that are humorous, cheeky (risque) or have cartoons on them.

2 If you have a particular interest, consider collecting postcards related to that interest. For example, if you love horses, then postcards of horses will always appeal to you. All sorts of interests like ballet, rugby, board games, aircraft spotting, museums, dinosaurs, weapons, food, alcohol, etc., are likely to be found on postcards in one way of another. This can add a very interesting dimension to postcard collecting that will bolster your love of your other interest in a unique way. Some people only collect postcards when they travel . Given the great photos that professional photographers can take of a place you're visiting, it can be a good way to ensure that you have at least one really good photo of the place you've visited! It's also helpful to get postcards that depict different seasons or weather than what you're experiencing on your visit. 3 Know the general postcard eras.

While it's incredibly hard to date many postcards because anyone can print them anywhere and that's precisely how it's always been, there are some factors that can help you determine the era of postcards: [3] 1898-1919 is known as the "Golden Age of Postcards", when picture postcards were most popular 1901-1906 – undivided backs on picture postcards 1907-1915 – divided backs on picture postcards (in the U.S.A.; most other countries had divided backs a few years earlier, e.g. Canada from 1903) 1915-1930 – white border postcards were common 1930-1950 – linen collectible postcards [4] Post 1940 postcards were produced as modern chromes , namely color photographs instead of the photo-chromes generated from black and white photos in earlier postcards – early chromes date from the 1940s to the 1960s. Given that postcards are usually sent within a few years of production, the postmark can be an indicator.

Then again, everyone has seen very dusty old postcards that haven't sold for years in some stores, and there is nothing to stop anyone from posting a very old postcard 50 to 100 years later if they feel like it, so the postmark isn't always a good indicator! If the postcard presents a city, street or other view that can be matched to photos of a certain time, that can help to date the postcard. 4 Learn the collector's terminology and focus. Once you start getting quite serious about collecting postcards, you'll learn that there are quite a few things to take into account when collecting them. As a beginner aiming to have fun with your hobby, simply be aware of these initially and over time, you may want to direct your attention more to the collectible indicators to ensure that you have a postcard collection of the highest quality should you wish to show it at a special event or sell it for good value. Things of importance when collecting any paper collectible such as postcards include condition, age, anything interesting about the postcard such as its age, the artist/ photographer , the image, sometimes the printer, and the postcard's rarity.

Other things that might be notable include the author of the writing on it, the content of the writing, the address, the stamp/postmark, and any other elements such as the post office marking the postcard as "prohibited/censored" due to censorship or war, etc. Any one of these elements alone could cause a particular postcard to be very special and any of these elements could also form the basis of your collection. For example, you might want to collect postcards by famous people or by women from a certain era or that have never been posted and are in perfect condition. In terms of condition, postcards are rated as follows (the first three ratings being for serious vintage postcard collectors): Mint: This means that the vintage postcard appears as it would have fresh off the printing press. There cannot be any writing, postage marks, creases, bends, etc. on the postcard for it to be in mint condition. They should be stored in acid-free , archival covers and kept safe from being bent. Near mint: This is almost like mint except for a very minor flaw such as a little yellowing at the edge. There cannot be much of a flaw though or it starts to fall down the list.

Again, this should be stored in acid-free, archival covers to protect it for the long term. Excellent: This is a vintage postcard that is in excellent condition, so no tears or wear. It can be postmarked or written on, provided the postcard itself is still in perfect shape. As above, keep this in acid-free, archival covers. Very good: This postcard is often mailed, postmarked and written upon but it has very few signs of wear and is definitely one to be proud of in a collection. Good: By this stage, the postcard has lived a little and shows signs of its journey. There may be bent corners, a fold, creases, faded colors, etc. This one is unlikely to be worth much unless it's particularly unusual, rare or was written by something famous. Fair to poor: The rest of the postcards in their grimy, beaten up, bent, crushed, creased and other states. The reason you keep them? Mostly because they're sentimental , because they complete a set, because you like them anyway, and so forth. Just don't expect to make a fortune from them any day soon!

Even so, a rare card or a card with great content can be worth a considerable amount even if damaged and in some cases certain forms of wear may even add to the aesthetic appeal of a card (the moral is go with what you like without worrying that it isn't expensive). 5 Spend some time researching the values of postcards. It's a good use of time to browse through postcards for sale on auction sites such as eBay. Doing this will give you an idea of what's available as well as giving you an idea of the prices the postcards are worth and what you can expect to pay for them. However, at this stage don't get hung up on high values or you won't develop your own style and taste. Instead, focus on buying what you like for now and developing your own theme. Once you feel more confident that this is the hobby of choice for you and that you want to spend more money on it, then you can get serious about spending more money on particular types of postcards. Until then, just enjoy the thrill of adding to your collection for very low prices! 6 Understand the difference between a "real photo" postcard and a regular postcard. Real photo postcards were popular in the Golden Age (less so later).

They are usually black and white and look like photographs, because that's what they are. Unlike the majority of early postcards, which were lithographed (sometimes called "lithos" for short), "real photo" cards were photographs developed directly onto special postcard backs. Lithographed cards, by contrast, were usually made from photographs but they were mechanically printed in printing presses. You can tell the difference by looking closely at the image: if it is a lithograph card the image will be composed of tiny dots (like a photograph in a newspaper) while the ink in a real photograph will be continuous. Real photo cards were usually produced in very small quantities, because they had to be developed in a darkroom, one by one. Often they were family photos or photos of local events produced by a local photographer for immediate sale. On average, a real photo postcard will sell for more than a lithographed postcard -- typically 5 to 10 times more. So, when you see one box of views of your town selling for $1-$5 and another box selling for $10-$50, chances are that the reason for the difference is that the first box contains lithographs and the second contains real photos. 7 Find postcards.

The places for finding postcards are many and varied but the sources will be determined by how you have narrowed down your collection criteria. For example, if you're not fussed about the age, quality or provenance of the postcard, you'll find postcards literally everywhere you go from newspaper stands on the street to your grandma's attic. It gets more complicated the more you narrow down your interests and the more you seek older, antique postcards but there are still many avenues for finding them even then. In particular, the places you're likely to find postcards include: Stores that sell magazines, newspapers, stationery , candies, etc. will often carry modern, current postcards. These will usually be souvenir postcards aimed at tourists but you never know what you mind find, so be sure to look wherever you are. Check out truck stops, gas stations, department stores, souvenir stores, motel lobbies, anywhere that is heavily visited by tourists. Any place associated with tourists, travelers, traveling etc. will probably have current, modern postcards. Many museums , art galleries, zoos, national parks, theme parks, science centers, aquariums, space observatories, and other display, learning and entertainment areas often carry modern, current postcards.

Look online for a very wide variety of postcards both new and old to antique. Auction sites, antique sites and postcard seller sites will provide you with a wide array of choices. Visit a postcard trade show . Here you'll find nothing but postcards! Visit antique stores, flea markets , garage and yard sales, secondhand bookstores and other similar stores for older postcards. Auction houses may also sell postcards, and if you're after someone's existing collection, an auction house or an art or vintage collectibles auction are good places to start. Ask family members for old, unwanted postcards and go through boxes of stored papers in the attic to see if anyone has stored any over the years that have been sent to them or that they've collected on trips away. Ask anyone you know who travels or is going on vacation to send you home at least one postcard. This can be a lovely way to treasure their words as well as the postcard. For a beginner collector, bulk lot purchases of postcards can be a lot of fun. You never know what you might get in such a mix but it'll be fun rummaging through it and it might spark more creative ideas for how to put together your postcard collection.

8 Know what to check for when buying postcards. It's easier to check the condition of a postcard in a store than online and yet it's likely that many of your cards will be internet purchases. In this case, be sure to seek as thorough a photo as possible of the card's condition before buying. If you can't see all of the condition or the description is very poor, either don't purchase it or only purchase it if it's exceptionally cheap. Some of the things to be aware of when purchasing cards include: Cleanliness of the card: This is not about whether or not it has been written on. It's about the splotches, marks, grime and grease that builds up on old paper items over time. Look for postcards that are clean and free of age or grime marks where possible. It won't always be possible but it's worth aiming high where you can. Edges: Try to find postcards that have even and unbent edges and haven't been torn or dog eared. Content: It's always preferable if you can actually read what has been written on the postcard if it has writing. That makes it a lot more enjoyable and gives a sense of history behind the postcard.

Markings: Mostly this is about the postmark. The more legible, the better and if it has a date and location that can be read, a lot can be learned about the postcard. Avoid: Things to avoid include moldy postcards (they will never become un-moldy), really badly battered about unless there is a sentimental or content reason for getting the postcard, foxing (spots and age marks) and grease marks (these detract from the overall look), stains such as blood, grime or water, too many folds or creases, tears, etc. If it looks tattered , the only reason to get it is because it's rare, what is written on it is worth keeping or you've fallen in love with it (but not if it's moldy). 9 Display and store the postcards. The manner in which you keep the postcards is important for safeguarding their quality over the coming years. For the really old and the valuable postcards, store in archival, acid-free covers available from hobby stores, stamp and postcard retailers and online. These will keep dust, grime and stains off the postcards and the paper will be safe from acidity.

Keep the cards stored flat and in a place where they cannot be crushed, bent or warped. Ensure that the environment is dry and cool and not humid and that there is no possibility of insect damage . If you have children (and/or pets), store the postcards out of reach, at least until the children are old enough to know how to handle them properly. Most of all, try to find a way that makes it easy to see and enjoy your postcard collection as often as you like. Some ideas include: Scrapbooks are ideal for creating themed collections and can be the perfect vehicle for protecting, displaying and explaining your postcard collection. Indeed, people have kept postcards in albums since Victorian times, so this will be carrying on a fine old tradition. Another great way to keep a record of your postcard collection is to take digital images and post them into an online collection for all to see. It will help you to keep track of the postcards and many other people can enjoy your collection too! 10 Keep learning more about collecting postcards. This article has been intended to aid the beginning hobbyist or sentimental collector to get started on honing choices, organizing the collection and learning the basics.

More in-depth knowledge should be pursued through talking to other collectors and reading widely in the field of deltiology and about collecting in general. Community Q&A Do stamped postcards have a higher value? wikiHow Contributor Generally, no, but it is always a good idea to check the stamp and postmark when considering a purchase. Sometime a rare or unusual stamp is found on a card which may be more valuable than the card itself. Postmarks can also be collected themselves. Postmarks from very small towns, railroads, shipboards, temporary post offices, or cancellations of rare or unusual design may be highly desirable. How can I make collections available to buyers if I wish to sell them? wikiHow Contributor You could put a picture online, and if anyone would like it, you could mail it to them. If this question (or a similar one) is answered twice in this section, please click here to let us know. Tips Many people have postcards stashed somewhere; have a good look through your things when getting started! There are many local postcard clubs. Consider joining one. Because postcard collectors tend to be collecting different types of cards, postcard collecting is a particularly friendly and non-competitive hobby.

Once other collectors know your interests, they'll be on the lookout for cards for you. Consider choosing postcards that depict how your local area, city or town has changed over the past 100 years or so. These postcards can be both nostalgic and historically informative. They also make great conversation pieces to pull out when you're hosting a dinner party; people love seeing how their own area has changed over time. Literally billions of postcards were produced and mailed during the Golden Age, including millions of distinct types. Because of this, even an experienced postcard dealer will not always recognize the value of certain cards. If you know an area well (whether a geographical area or a topic represented on postcards), you will often be able to find cards that are undervalued. This distinguishes postcard collecting from other forms of collecting -- e.g. stamps or sports cards -- in which virtually all existing examples are known, catalogued and priced. If you are interested in receiving postcards through the mail (one way to begin your collection), try postcrossing.com [5] . Starting an account is a free and you can send and receive postcards from around the world.

Long sets that show an entire scene as it unfolds, such as a street theme, a circus or a carnival can be worth a lot of money in good condition. Popular postcard artists include Beaulieu, F Earle Christie, D McGill and Lucy Atwell. The names will vary depending on which culture you're deriving the postcards from and which era you're focusing on but it never hurts to start with artists or photographers that grab your interest most. Santa Claus and Halloween are popular holiday card collectibles. Due to the high numbers of other holiday cards though, few of the holiday themes are very valuable. Still, they make for great sentimental keeping. Warnings Don't assume that cards are rare just because they depict an unusual or forgotten event. For example, postcards of natural disasters and building fires were very big sellers during the Golden Age: be sure not to pay large sums for them until you're experienced enough to know that the event depicted wasn't the subject of hundreds of different cards (as was often the case). Light and insect damage can be a major issue for paper products in storage. Be sure to prevent damage from both. When purchasing postcards at high prices be sure you know their quality and true value.

You need to keep resale value in mind at all times in case you need to resell your more valuable collection at any stage. Things You'll Need Postcards Display folders or other methods for keeping postcards (you might like to frame or pin up some) – if conserving top quality postcards, always use archival quality storage methods Updated: Views: 58,815 "Just bought my first bulk buy of postcards to begin a new area of collecting for me. This is a very informative article, and I will be using it as the basis to build my collection going forward. Thank you for the firm foundation of knowledge. "..." more - Keith Jones "It is a good description for people thinking about collecting seriously or who want to keep their existing postcards in good condition. Definitely not going to get rich collecting postcards. One collects for the fun of it. "..." more - F. Lane Greatly added to my knowledge and appreciation of my postcard collection. I'm very grateful. - Ronny Hemmerich Specific, clear, and concise instructions and information that are nicely illustrated. - Ronny Hemmerich Easy to read and understand, a good summary for a beginner.

- John Van Wageningen Postcard History | Smithsonian Institution Archives Smithsonian Institution Archives Postcard History Postcards, as we are familiar with them today, have taken a considerable amount of time to develop. First restricted by size, color, and other regulations, postcard production blossomed in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Postcards were popular because they were a quick and easy way for individuals to communicate with each other. Today deltiology, or the collection of postcards, is a popular hobby. The following is a brief general history of the postcard in the United States. The dates for each time period are not concrete and different sources contain slightly variable dates. It is also important to keep in mind that postcard types produced in one period could also be produced in another, but were simply not produced in the same volume as other card types of the period. PRE-POSTCARD PERIOD: 1848-1870 Before postcards, some people sent cards through the mail with attached postage.

Because these cards are not actually postcards, they are typically referred to as “mailed cards.” During this period, envelopes were produced with pictures on them, and some speculate that postcards are the direct descendants of the picture envelopes. While we do not have picture envelopes that date from this time period, this envelope with the Smithsonian Institution Building on it is similar to the earlier picture envelopes. On February 27, 1861, the US Congress passed an act that allowed privately printed cards, weighing one ounce or under, to be sent in the mail. That same year John P. Charlton (other places seen as Carlton) copyrighted the first postcard in America. PIONEER PERIOD: 1870-1898 In 1870, Hymen L. Lipman began reissuing Charlton’s postcard under a new name: Lipman’s Postal Cards. Congress passed legislation on June 8, 1872, that approved government production of postal cards. The first government-produced postcard was issued on May 1, 1873. 1 One side of the postcard was for a message and the other side was for the recipient’s address.

By law, the government postcards were the only postcards allowed to bear the term “Postal Card.” Private publishers were still allowed to print postcards, but they were more expensive to mail than the government-produced cards (2¢ instead of 1¢) . PRIVATE MAILING CARD PERIOD: 1898-1901 On May 19, 1898, Congress passed an act allowing private printing companies to produce postcards with the statement “Private Mailing Card, Authorized by Act of Congress of May 19, 1898.” Private mailing cards now cost the same amount of money to mail as government-produced postcards: 1¢. The words “Private Mailing Card” distinguished privately printed cards from government printed cards. Messages were not allowed on the address side of the private mailing cards, as indicated by the words “This side is exclusively for the Address,” or slight variations of this phrase. However, if the front of the postcard did not contain an image, it could bear a message. If the front did have an image, then a small space was left on the front for a message.

Many of the private mailing cards, like the Castle postcard seen below, also contained the phrase “Postal Card—Carte Postale,” which indicated that it was allowed to enter the international mail system. POST CARD PERIOD: 1901-1907 In December 1901, the Postmaster-General issued Post Office Order No. 1447, which allowed the words “Post Card” instead of the longer “Private Mailing Card” on the back of postcards. Private printers were now also allowed to omit the line citing the 1898 Private Mailing Card Act. However, messages were still not allowed on the address side of postcards. By this time, the front of most postcards had images, which eliminated it as a space for messages. Because of the absence of message space on the address side of postcards, the Post Card Period is also known as the Undivided Back Period. DIVIDED BACK PERIOD: 1907-1915 In 1907, a major change on the address side of postcards occurred. This change was prompted by the Universal Postal Congress, the legislative body of the Universal Postal Union .

The convention decreed that postal cards produced by governments of member nations could have messages on the left half of the address side, effective October 1, 1907. The Universal Postal Congress also decreed that after March 1, 1907, government-produced cards in the United States could bear messages on the address side. 2 Congress passed an act on March 1, 1907, in compliance with the Union’s decree, allowing privately produced postcards to bear messages on the left half of the card’s back. The next day, the Postmaster-General issued Order No. 146, granting privileges to privately produced postcards that were already granted in international mail, including the allowance of message space. On June 13, 1907, the Postmaster-General issued Order No. 539, which allowed government-produced postcards to bear messages on the left half of the address side. 3 These changes to the backs of postcards ushered in the Divided Back Period, which spans from 1907 until 1915. The Divided Back Period is also known as the “Golden Age of Postcards,” due to the vast popularity of postcards during this time period.

Another type of postcard that began to be produced and popularly used during the Divided Back period and through the White Border period is the “real photo” postcard. “Real photo” postcards were first produced using the Kodak “postcard camera.” The postcard camera could take a picture and then print a postcard-size negative of the picture, complete with a divided back and place for postage. WHITE BORDER PERIOD: 1915-1930 Throughout early postcard history, German printers dominated the market in postcard printing. However, with the beginning of World War I, American printers supplied most of the postcards in the United States. American printers did not have the same technology as German printers, so the quality of available postcards fell, and people lost interest in collecting them, effectively ending the “Golden Age” of postcards. Printers saved ink during this time by not printing to the edge of the card and leaving a white border around the image, giving the time period its name. Postcards from the White Border Period also had a description of the image on the message side, which retained the divided back.

LINEN PERIOD: 1930-1945 Beginning in the 1930s, new printing processes allowed printers to produce postcards with high rag content, which gave them a look of being printed on linen, rather than paper. The most notable printer of this period was Curt Teich & Co. , which printed its first linen card in 1931, and whose postcards became popular around the world. Teich’s process allowed for quicker production and brighter dyes to be used to color the images. Most postcards retained the white border, though some were printed to the edge of the card. The back remained divided and usually contained printed information about the image. The production of linen postcards eventually gave way to photochrom (or photochrome) 4 postcards, which first appeared in 1939. However, linen cards continued to be produced for over a decade after the advent of photochrom postcards. PHOTOCHROM PERIOD: 1945-PRESENT Modern photochrom-style postcards first appeared in 1939 when the Union Oil Company began to carry them in their western service stations.

Production of the postcards slowed during World War II because of supply shortages, but after the war, they dominated the postcard market. The photochrom postcards are in color, and their images closely resemble photographs. Photochrom postcards are the ones most familiar to us today. In the 1990s the advent of e-cards and email started the decline of the postcard’s popularity. Today postcards are typically purchased as souvenirs, rather than a quick way to communicate. Further Resources MetroPostcard Collectors Page INTRODUCTION to a new website feature by Marilyn Stern, Editor & Interviewer for this section It amazes me that, given how massively abundant postcards were in the early 20th century, there are people today who have never laid eyes on a vintage card. What is equally incredible is that anyone who does discover these time-forsaken gems can resist becoming a collector. Of course not everyone has an innate proclivity for acquiring things they love, or a budget to match their taste. But even those who do may hesitate to identify themselves as collectors, feeling the term has an air of seriousness, erudition, or even snobbishness they wish to avoid.

“I just do it for fun,” is a common refrain. Or “I don't organize them or anything. I just like them.” or, as someone told me at the last big postcard show in NYC: “I mostly buy them to use, you know, mail to friends. So am I a collector or not?” That one’s a hard call. I myself discovered vintage postcards while in college in Rhode Island in the 1970’s, while rummaging through a used bookstore. The cards were in a shoe box in a dark corner. And, though I had no knowledge of or interest in postcards per se, I was very interested in children’s book illustration, my career aspiration at the time. Postcards of such illustrations delighted me. At 25-cents each, they were my first postcard acquisitions. Soon I was adding cards of Maine lobsters and Newport mansions, fond associations with my college years in the years to come. Even after joining the Metropolitan Postcard Collectors Club in NYC, where I relocated after college, I would not call myself a collector. I just did it for fun, after all. Didn’t organize them or anything. But definitely and consistently was amassing cards.

So why the hesitation to identify as a collector? Perhaps I was concerned that if dealers considered me a collector they’d entice me with pricier cards which I'd be unable to resist. There is, after all, a compulsive aspect to the hobby. (More on this in a future article.) Also, I feared, if I answered yes to the dealers’ persistent question “Are you a collector?” they would assume an expertise on my part that I couldn’t live up to. Now I freely and proudly admit to being a collector, and not simply a hoarder of postcards. The difference has nothing to do with how many years one’s been involved, nor how many cards one owns, nor whether they're stored in shoe boxes or notebooks or fine oak cabinets. The difference is: A collector is discriminating. He/she brings discerning and opinionated criteria to each acquisition. And, perhaps most importantly, a collector has the overall goal of building an archive or multiple archives, based on his/her distinctive criteria. There are probably as many ways and reasons to collect postcards as there are collectors of them, and none is more correct than another.

Some choose a topic rife with personal nostalgia or meaning, such as a hometown, a breed of dog, or advertising from childhood years. Others with more extensive knowledge of postcard history may collect one publisher or artist or photographer, or even deltiology - postcards about postcards and postal history. Some select solely for visual aesthetics or printing techniques. Some are attracted to scarcity, relying on one or more dealers to funnel rarities their way. Others are drawn to the most common and can be found clustered around 25-cent boxes at postcard shows. Even here treasures can be found, for value is often in the eye - and collection - of the beholder. What is common to all collectors, of postcards or otherwise, is the thrill of the search, the find, the acquisition; and ultimately, the building and shaping of a unique collection. This page will present various postcard collectors via interviews and samples from their collections along with occasional autobiographical statements. There will also be short essays on various aspects of postcard collecting, from the psychological to the practical, and on novel ways of looking at and understanding postcards, hopefully bringing insights to even the most seasoned collector.

This section is intended for everyone interested in postcards, whether you're just starting out or looking for ways to enhance an existing collection. We hope it will be inspiring to all. March 27, 2013 How the PC Virus Attacked Me First taken by view cards and eventually a Dutch Kid collector By Gerrit J. Bothof It was more than three decades ago that I saw the fiftieth anniversary of my birth. In The Netherlands we use to say, I saw Abraham. On that same day it happened; it seemed nothing special but it turned out to be a mustard seed that eventually grew into a big plant; a substantial collection of postcards. How did this happen? One of my sisters in-law gave me a small photo album filled with a score of postcards that my family had sent to hers. Most of them were of the city of Nijmegen where I lived, 15 miles south of the famous A Bridge Too Far city of Arnhem. There was an accompanying message, “you have a strong interest in history. These cards can be the beginning of a nice new hobby.” Well, up to then I had been a stamp collector, but stamps are so small . . .

Later I found another collecting interest; bilingual dictionaries, more than a century old with Dutch as one of the languages. My interest in them had arisen visiting antiquarian bookstores in search for second hand specialist wordbooks, useful for my translation company in development. Their beautiful bindings just struck me. Well, after several years passed by I saw my antique dictionary collection growing beyond my available shelf space. Dictionaries are so big . . . Years after my 50th birthday I visited a small downtown postcard street market in The Hague where I bought a card depicting a street in a small suburb of the city where I had lived when I was a schoolboy; nostalgia. In the years that followed I bought a couple more cards of the city I had lived in, and then more, and still more. Then the organizing started. I now have them placed in binders, eight cards per sheet. They are all arranged by individual downtown streets, squares, parks, main roads, statues, local landmarks, you name them. On my second trip to the United States, in the Nineties, I met with a distant cousin who is as fond of rummaging through flea markets as I am.

Under a canvas tarp we found a postcard dealer from whom she picked out a nicely drawn card depicting a Dutch boy and girl along with text in clumsy English. It was meant to imitate the type of English spoken by early immigrants from Holland, but after studying it linguistically I noticed that it was not truly accurate. But Iï¿½m getting ahead of myself. She told me she already had a couple of these cards at home. I was very taken by the category and started buying them myself. I now have more than 2,900 postcards on this topic alone. Imagine the problem I was confronted with in organizing them. There was no possibility of arranging them by topographical characteristics. Most of them appeared to be published by SB, a company later defined as Samson Brothers. Their quantities abound, not nearly matched by other publishers like Bergman, Gibson, Auburn and the like. Each card has a distinctive characteristic, a series number. So on that basis I have filed my SB cards, which now fill six 23-ring albums. Some cards by Bergman have numbers as well, so I have been able to place them in two similar binders.

I then was left with a stack of cards of other known publishers., which became another basis in which to file them. Then I had stack of cards only showing initials and letter trademarks, and I dedicated another set of albums just to them. Eventually I had to find a solution for cards with few obvious details. This stack was too high to simply say, remainder, cannot be filed. In scrutinizing them further I found the distinguishing detail I needed in the absence or presence of variously shaped dividers down their backs. Undivided postcards could be put together easily and any printed text on them provided a chance to sort them further. I then discovered that the dividing elements could either take on the shape of a simple I, a double I (II), a single T or a double T (TT), and even ornamental dividers exist. I have written this story in hope of finding others that I can connect to that also hold an interest in the Dutch Kids topic. So far, all my attempts have been fruitless, although I know that there are scores of people bidding on eBay for these kind of cards. I hope that contacts with fellow collectors may lead to an interesting exchange of information, swaps and more.

You may contact me at gerritjbothof@planet.nl. Glossary of Postcard Collecting Terms Advertising postcard. A postcard that advertises a product, service, or event. Advertising trade card. A card that advertises something but is not a postcard. Antique postcard. Usually refers to a postcard published before 1920. Artist-signed. The artistï¿½s signature appears on the postcard illustration. Chrome. A printed glossy-surface postcard that was based on a color photo. Comic. A humorous postcard. Continental size. Size is approximately 4 X 6 inches. Deltiology. The hobby of postcard collecting. Divided back. Card back is divided into a message space on the left and an address space on the right, allowed in the U.S. since 1907. Embossed. The card design is printed so it is raised above the surface. Exaggeration. Part of the image is exaggerated by scaling it much larger than the rest of the image. Exposition. Usually an official Worldï¿½s Fair, but there are also smaller regional fairs called expositions. Folder.

Reproductions of postcard views (about 12 to 18) printed on both sides of a long strip of paper that folds up into an attadhed wrapper. Golden Age. Period during early 1900s before World War I when postcard collecting was very popular Greetings. Greeting cards printed as postcards for birthdays, holidays, friendship, etc. Heavily embossed. Degree of embossing is greater than average and colors appear to be airbrushed rather than printed realistically. Sometimes has a flat paper backing. Hold-to light. Usually means multilayerd postcards with parts of the top layer cut out. When the card is held to the light, the cut-out areas (such as a windows, lights, sun, or moon) appear illuminated. Another type has oiled sections that transmit the light. Installment set. A set of individual postcards that form a larger picture when placed side by side. Large letter. Outlines of large-lettered place names are filled with images. Linen. Postcards printed on paper with a linen-textured surface. Linen era. Early 1930s to early 1950s. Lot.

Multiple postcards offered for sale as a group. Mail art. Art exchanged through the mailï¿½includes postcards, faux postage, etc. Maximum card. A postage stamp with an appropriate cancellation is placed on the picture side of a postcard having a similar image (maximum concurrence of postcard, stamp, and postmark). Modern era. Mid 1970s or later, usually continental size. Multiview. A card with multiple pictures. Name band. Card with multiple picture areas separated by a solid color band printed with a location name. Novelty. Postcard made of unusual materials or having an unusual shape. Old postcard. Can mean any card that is not new, but more often means cards from the 1920s or earlier. Oversized. Length of the card is greater than 6 inches. Pioneer. Card produced before the Private Mailing Card Act of 1898. Postal card. A card with preprinted postage supplied by the U.S. Postal Service. Private Mailing Card. The term "Private Mailing Card" was printed on the address side of privately produced postal cards between 1898 and 1901. Rack cards.

Modern advertising postcards distributed free on racks. Real photo. A photographic image printed on photographic paper with a postcard back. Images printed on cardstock by a printing press are not real photos. Series. A group of cards published on a particular subject and having a similar design. Often, but not always, has the word series on the back. Stamp box. A printed rectangular box in the upper right corner of the postcard back that indicates where the postage stamp should be placed. Standard size. Postcard measuring 3ï¿½ X 5ï¿½ inches. Tinsel. Substance similar to glitter that was used to decorate postcards. Topical. A card that fits into a specific subject category. Topographical. Same as a view card. Undivided back. Postcard published before 1907 when only the address was allowed on the back of the card. View cards. Cards based on realistic images of specific locations. Vintage. Usually refers to cards from the the 1930s through the 1960s, but could mean any card at least twenty-five years old.

Question: By what name is a collector of postcards known?
Answer: Deltiologist